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Misplaced Priorities

By TChris, Section War on Terror
Posted on Thu Nov 10, 2005 at 12:42:30 PM EST
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by TChris

As reported here, the CIA is housing and interrogating suspected terrorists in foreign prisons. The propriety of using secret prisons, where abuse (or even killings) may go unreported, is worthy of public debate, but Sen. Frist is unconcerned. Instead, he’s concerned that the administration's dirty little secret was made public.

"My concern is with leaks of information that jeopardize your safety and security - period," Frist said. "That is a legitimate concern."
...

Frist was asked if that meant he was not concerned about investigating what goes on in detention centers.

"I am not concerned about what goes on and I'm not going to comment about the nature of that," Frist replied.

The House Intelligence Committee will investigate the leak (Sen. Lott has backpedaled on his initial speculation that the leak came from a Republican senator) while refusing to investigate a larger issue: the administration’s misuse of intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. Aren’t the issues that Frist and the House Republicans are trying to duck at least as important as the leaker’s identity? And where was all the Republican angst about safety and security when Scooter Libby (and, perhaps, yet-to-be-indicted coconspirators) leaked Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA operative?

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    Misplaced Priorities | 20 comments (20 topical)
    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    Geez, you think the guy who so wholeheartedly endorsed the vivisection of cats would at least want to compare techniques!

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    where is/was his concern for Ms. Plame?

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    well, you guys are just of so concerned about leaks... Turn ahout is fair play, eh? Enjoy the monster you created.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    ppj-did you read the post. the leak was from the wingnut torture committee. Frist will soon call off the dogs in a fit of embarssment. off your meds again? I guess your concern is leaks by whistleblowers while ours is leaks by neocon's seeking vengance and in the meantime compromising national security.
    The House Intelligence Committee will look into a possible leak of classified information about secret CIA prisons but will not heed the request of the panel's top Democrat to restart a 2003 inquiry into prewar intelligence on Iraq.
    I guess when it comes to killing, war, and torture the repugs shine. Must be nostalgic for you ppj.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#6)
    by Punchy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    Oh, this will REALLY come back to crush him. When the "newer" Abu Ghraib (sp?) photos come out, and everyone FREAKS about our behavior and torture in general, every Dem on the planet is gunna put Frist's words into their commercial. To say he's "unconcerned" now is the dumbest thing he could spew, especially when it only promises to get much, much worse. Frist, you're a grade-A idiot.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    so much for the that hippocratic oath. or, was it the hypocritic oath? damn, i always get those two confused!

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#8)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    I do think there should be an investigation into who leaked the information about the black prisons after all secret stuff is just that, secret stuff. Can't just be leaking all over the place, you know. The NYTimes let this Jin out of the bottle and now everyone gets thier drubs. I'd like to know more about those prisons although I can imagine that they don't exist anymore since this leak came out. Either way it will be fun to watch both sides try to spin thier arguments about the serial CIA leaks that are 180 degrees opposite of what they were saying just a month ago. Spin, spin, spin, dizziness all around!

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#9)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    I don't know of any dems or 'lefties' that don't want the leak investigated. Especially considering that only rethugs were briefed on the existence of these torture facilities. My prediction is that rethugs will block the leak investigation. Personally, I think investigating secret detention centers in former gulags is more important, but there is no reason congress can't do both. Of course, there is a difference in 'leaking' to secretly attack an administration critic and leaking to keep the gov't honest, no matter what party is in power. (I wish someone had leaked the lies about the Gulf of Tonkin 'incident' at the time. We might have saved 50,000 americans.)

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#10)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    Well said, sailor.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    Spin, spin, spin...it has already begun. Partisan politics is nothing but hypocracy by a different name. Spin, spin, spin...anyone dizzy yet?

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#12)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    Uhh, gee, I just endorsed the investigation, what a peculiar definition you have of 'spin'. If you want spin, I suggest you look for truth, beauty and charm;-)

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#13)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    Squeak - The investigation has been referred to the JD. Enjoy the monster you have created.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#15)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    jimcee, not exactly sure what your point is. What prominent Democrat has objected to the leak being investigated? The hypocrisy you speak of is genuine but most of it is coming from the GOP. Visit the FOX News web site and look at the prominent display of Frist expressing "outrage" at the leak. From what moral ground can he possibly be speaking: how can he feign outrage with a straight face after his brushing off of what happened to Plame? Even Joe Scarborough, for God's sake, has called out the GOP and the ppj's of the world on this. And when Scarborough bristles at the GOP, you can only whistle. By all means, investigate this leak as vigorously as the other one. To say that, and to remain steadfastedly against torture, does not constitute spin or hypocrisy, but rather integrity.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#16)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    You guys are funny. This has went to the JD. Hello SP. Hello investigation. Hello reporters in GJs. As you have said, if a law has been brokem....we must find the culprit...we must protect our secret organizations... Enjoy the monster you have created.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#17)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:58 PM EST
    Uhh, dems didn't create this 'monster', it's called 'the law.' And if it helps lead us back to truth, justice and the American way, great! Investigate ALL of the illegallities and let the chips fall where they may.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#18)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:59 PM EST
    Shorter Jim: Sure, we're torturing people in secret gulags - but it's YOUR fault! Even shorter Jim: I'm a troll.

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#19)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:59 PM EST
    jimcee made no point and Jim is making even less of one. Both, especially Jim, seem somewhat exasperated that they cannot turn this into an attack on the Dems. Not that they had levied substantive attacks before, but this time there isn't even the shadow of one. Here's a hint, apologists: maybe you can somehow make this seem like it's all Dick Durbin's fault! :-0 At any rate, now that we've established agreement that these leaks need to be investigated... Now is the time for Americans everywhere to be asking themselves, at water coolers, warming their hands by trash cans, in pews and churches and jails and San Francisco bath houses and kitchen tables and soccer practices and everything in between: do they have a government with any sense of accountability at all? Shall we have torture as a foreign policy? Some ask, is this how we want to be known?--But I ask, far more importantly, is this what we really want to be?

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:59 PM EST
    ‘• Torture is prohibited by law throughout the United States. • It is categorically denounced as a matter of policy and as a tool of state authority. • Every act constituting torture under the Convention constitutes a criminal offense under the law of the United States. • No official of the government, federal, state or local, civilian or military, is authorized to commit or to instruct anyone else to commit torture. • Nor may any official condone or tolerate torture in any form. • No exceptional circumstances may be invoked as a justification of torture. • US law contains no provision permitting otherwise prohibited acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to be employed on grounds of exigent circumstances (for example, during a ‘state of public emergency’) • or on orders from a superior officer or public authority, • and the protective mechanisms of an independent judiciary are not subject to suspension.’ (Report of the United States to the UN Committee against Torture, October 15, 1999, UN Doc. CAT/C/28/Add.5, February 9, 2000, para. 6.)


    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#22)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:59 PM EST
    That the current government is breaking the law by authorizing torture, the American people find themselves pretty well aware. The question is, how much will they care about this? Again, for a lot of people, not being personally in the crosshairs makes a big difference. Will the 'who cares, it's just them other people' sentiment work for the GOP? Bravery of Being Out of Range. Stay tuned.....

    Re: Misplaced Priorities (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:06:01 PM EST
    When, oh when, will Bill Frist schedule his long overdue rectal craniotomy!?

    Misplaced Priorities | 20 comments (20 topical)